Stabilizer attachment



Sept 24, 1963 o. F. MARloTTl ETAL 3,104,772

STABILIZER ATTACHMENT Filed July l2, 1961 United States Patent()3,104,772 STABILIZER ATTACHMENT Olinto F. Mariotti, 9520 S. Melvina, OakLawn, lll., and John A. Williams, 8453 S. Rhodes, Chicago, Ill. FiledJuly 12, 1961, Ser. No. 123,517 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-654) This inventionrelates to an improved stabilizer attachment, and more particularlypertains to `a stabilizer 'adapted for use with fork lift trucks.

In many industries, notably the soft drink industry, rn which stackedcases of bottles are moved about l'a plant, breakage has become aserious and expensive problem. With the increasing use of automaticbottling and bottlehandl-ing equipment, it becarne essential for stackedcases of bottles, both empty and filled, to be rapidly and con tinuouslymoved to keep pace with filling, washing and other automaticbottle-processing devices.

'Ihe necessitated increased bottle movement resulted in increasedbreakage, particularly in those instances in which manpower and timewere not lavailable to allora tying in or staggered stacking of therectangular cases of soft drink bottles on a pallet. Upon being engagedand moved by a fork lift truck, cases oftentimes fell from the pallet asthe lift trucks turned corners, even at comparatively low speeds, as aresult of centrifugal forces `acting on the cases.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide a novelstabilizer construction which may readily be attached to a fork lifttruck of ordinary construction without the necessity of significantlyaltering such truck construction.

It is another object of this invention to prov-ide la st-abilizer foruse with a fork lift truck winch is composed of a minimum number ofsturdy, inexpensive parts having low initial cost.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a stabilizerattachment in which the majo-r working components thereof may readily bedetached from a fork lift truck if such truck is to be used for purposesin which the stabilizer is not necessary.

It is another yobject `of this invention to provide a stabilizerattachment which after ian visualv aligning operation automaticallycomes into play in the normal course of engagement of a palletcontaining stacked goods by `a fork lift truck.

The labove and other objects will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed `description when read in the light of theaccompanying drawing and appended claims.

In one embodiment of the stabilizer provided l-by this invention 1atransverse support having slotted, upwardly vextending plate portionsdefining opposed end limits thereof is welded, bolted or otherwisesuitably allixed to the upper surface of a transverse brace of a forklift truck lifting frame. The opposed slotted plates are traversed by atransverse axle member and, accordingly, serve as spaced bearingstherefor. The axle member is resiliently biased in a downwardlydirection, so as to be urged into engagement with the lower end limitsof the slotted bearings by means of at least one coil spring orequivalent -mean's connected to the axle lat one end limit and icespring may be attache-d to an upper end limit of one of the axle slottedbearings. Depending from a portion lof each stabilizer arm at a pointspaced adjacent the end portion thereof which engages the axle socketconnector is :an actuator aum. Each :actuator arm may have -an olfsetendportion disposed away from the fork lift truck on which supported.

In the normal course of stabilizer operation a fork lift truck in thecourse of engaging a pallet, on which cases of bottles are stacked,forces the depending actuator arms of the stabilizer into engagementwith the cases. Concomitantly the stabilizer arms :are pivoted againstthe tension in their supporting lsprings into engagement with spacedportions of the uppermost stacked cases which `are then resilientlylocked to the truck, -as will hereinafter be explained in greaterdetail.

For a more complete understand-ing of this invention reference is nowmade to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a lfragmentary side elevational view illustrating a forklift truck, having the stabilizer of this invention mounted thereon, inthe process of engaging a pallet on which cases of bottles are stacked;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 `and illustrateslthe liork liltl truck andstabilizer of FIG. 1 after the pallet and stackedcases there-on havebeen securely engaged;

FIG. 3 is 'a fragmentary enlarged perspective view tot the stabilizeryof this invention and a portion of afork lift truck to which it issecured;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of a transverse section of asocket connector employed in the stabilizer #attachment of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 vis a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of one embodimentof a stabilizer attachment constructed in accordance Withthe teachingsof this invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, one embodiment of ra stabilizerfor a lfork Ilift truck is illustrated, together with a fragmentaryportion of a lift truck to which the stabilizer is attached. It will beunderstood that provided Astabilizer l0 is adapted to be employed withfork lift y trucks of conventional construction. The stabilizer .10 doesnot require any signiricant Istructural changes in ithe lfft truck inthe course of attaching la stabilizer there-to.

The portions of a lift truck illustrated in FIG. 3 cornprise extensiblevertical guide standards 12 over which a lifting frame 14, composed inpart off vertical bars 16, reciprocally slida'bly moves as :a loadengaged by a fork member of the lift truck is raised or lowered. Thelifting :frame 14 may also Abe laterally adjustable relative to theguide standards 12; such movement is permissible with many conventionallift truck constructions.

The stabilizer attachment embodiment illustrated in the drawingcomprises a tranverse base channel 18 integrally formed at opposed endportions with vertical slotted plates 20. Plates 2) function as bearingsfora rotatable axle 22, more clearly seen in FIG. 5, which traversesslots 24 formed in the opposed bearing plates.

Integral channel base-bearing plate assembly 25 may be secured to uppertransverse strip 15 lof the truck lifting frame 14 by welding or the useof bolts and nuts, such as bolt 28 and nut 31 illustrated in theexploded view of FIG. 5. The use of a nut and bolt assembly obviouslyallows the stabilizer attachment assembly 10 to be readily removed froma fork lift truck when desired.

Welded or otherwise suitably axed to opposed end portions of axle 22 aresocket connectors 30, one of which is more clearly seen in section inFIG. 4. The socket connectors 30 are disposed at substantially rightangles to the axis of rotation of axle 22. They are recessed at 32 (seeFIG. 4) and welded or otherwise suitably aixed to end portions of theaxle 22.

Each socket connector 3i) has a central bore 34, more clearly seen inFIG. 4. The end por-tionl of the bore 34 connected with the distal endof the socket connector communicates with a downwardly extending slot36, which is of substantially the same width as the bore diameter. Inaddition, inclined slot or keyway 3S is formed in an upper peripheralportion of the connector 3% -which is disposed in a central longitudinalplane of the connector. Accordingly, slot 38 is formed directly abovethe central longitudinal axis of the connector 30.

It is the function of each socket connector 3l) to engage a discrete armassembly 40, one of which is fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 5. Eacharm assembly 40 comprises a stabilizer arm 42 having a relativelydownwardly inclined distal end portion'42a (see FIG. 3) in the normalposition of assembly. Arm 42 is integrally formed in substantially rightangle relationship with an actuating arm 44 having an oiset terminal endportion 44a. The latter actuating arm portion is disposed substantiallyparallel with arm portion 44e joined to stabilizer arm 42 and connectedtherewith by means of a diagonally connecting arm portion 44h. The armassembly 4t) may be readily engaged with the connector 30 by insertingdistal end portion 46 (see FIG. 5) of each stabilizer arm 42 into thebore 34 of the socket 30 until the terminal end of arm portion 46engages stop wall 50 of socket 30, more clearly seen in FIG. 4.Stabilizer arm portion 46 is only able to engage stop wall Stl ifactuator arm 44 is allowed to traverse slot 36 of the connector 30.

In the course of effecting this intertting connection, angularlyinclined terminal portion 54a (see FIG. 5) of each spring adjustingstrip 54 will be received within the keyway 38 of the socket Sil andinterlock therewith in the manner illustrated more clearly in FIG. 3. Itis apparent that the intertting of the spring adjusting strip 54 withthe connector keyway 3S and thek disposition of depending actuator arm44 within the slot portion 36 of the connector 3l) will prevent relativerotatable movement between each arm assembly 4t? and engaged connectorSti when in interlocking engagement.

As will be more clearly seen from FIG. 3, the means retaining each armassembly 4t) in interlocking engagement with socket connectors 3i?1comprise coil springs 5S, which engagean anchor aperture 60 disposed inan anchor strip 62, more clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, at one endlimit. Springs 58 engage that aperture formed in adjusting strip 54 ofeach'arrn assembly 4d, which enables the arm assembly and connectedAaxle l22 to be disposed with the stabilizer arms in a slightly upwardlyinclined position in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

`The stabilizer arm assemblies 49 and interconnecting axle and socketconnector assembly move as a unit in the normal course of operation ofthe stabilizer attachment 10. It is also seen from' the foregoingdescription that each coil spring S8 performs the dual function ofkpositioning the stabilizer arm assemblies, as well as exerting an axialforce on stabilizer arm portions 46, urging the same into engagementwith stop wall portions Sil of each socketconnector 30.

Although the arm assemblies and interconneoting axle 22 may moveupwardly when an upwardly directed force is imparted thereto because ofthe slotted bearing plates the arm assemblies and interconnecting axleare normally disposed in a condition of no nuse at the lowermost portionof the bearing slots in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. The stabilizerarms and axle assembly are urged continuously into the positionillustrated in FIG. 3 by means of coil springs 68.

As is more clearly seen from the exploded view of FIG. 5, coil springs68 are secured at their upper distal end limits to axle 22 and areprovided with elongate stems 68a which traverse apertures appropriatelydisposed in the base channel 18. It will be noted from FIG. 3 that eachcoil spring 68 is detachably secured at an opposed lower distal endlimit to one of the lifting frame vertical members 16. It is thusapparent that the stabilizer arm and axle assembly is resilientlydownarm assemblies.

wardly urged so that the axle 22 engages the lower end limits of slots24 formed `in the spaced bearing plates 20.

In the normal course of stabilizer operation, a fork lift truck engagesa pal-let, such `as pallet 70 in FIGS. l and 2, by means of a fork 72disposed beneath lifting frame 14. In the course of pallet engagement,offset terminal end portion 44a of each actuator arm 44 will engage a:side surface portion of a stacked case or cases, in the marmerillustrated in IFIGS. 1 and 2, as the lifting frame 14 approaches thestacked cases. Because of the connectors 36, the actuator arms may bedisposed forward of frame 14, as illustrated.

The number of cases 74 stacked at the pallet 70 detine a height,together with the pallet, which is greater than the level at which theaxle 22 of the stabilizer` attachment 10 is disposed when the lift truckis in the process of engaging the stacked cases in the mannerillustrated in FIG. l. .f

Accordingly, as the fork lift tr'luck continues to approach the stackedcases, the actuator arms 44 pivotally move each stabilizer arm 42downwardly between two rows of aligned bottles. It will be noted fromFIG. 3 that cut out portions 17 in lifting frame `strip 15 are provided.Cut outs 17 are in alignment with the actuator arms 44 whereby saidlatter arms may move behind the case-engaging face of the lifting iiramein the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 after the lift fork truck hasoompletely engaged the pallet.

kAs previously mentioned, quite often lifting frames, such as frames 14illustrated in FIG. 3, are laterally adjustable so that an operator mayalign the stabilizer arms 42 with a valley defined by two rows ofbottles prior to moving his fork lift truck into engagement with apallet on which a number of stacked cases are disposed. an operatorinitially approaches the pallet and cases properly, lateral adjustmentof the frame 14 and arms 42 is*V not necessary. The interval between thearms 42 is, of course, predeterminately set so that they may each lie ina bottle valley upon pallet-truck engagement. p

Since the height of the uppermost case is greater than the plane inwhich axle 22 is disposed, the latter axle is forced to move upwardly inslotted bearings 20. It will at this time be noted that slots 24 in theplates Ztlare upwardly inclined in a direction away from the stackedcases to facilitate the upward movement of the axle and If the slots 24are sufciently long Va. stabilizer construction may be enabled to handlestacks of cases of different heights. The slotted bearings ofthe'provided stabilizer thus inherently provide flexibility` in thecourse of stabilizer use.

It is seen, therefore, that as the fork lift truck engages v i a palletof stacked goods in the manner illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, in themanner well known, Ythe stabilizer 10 has the actuator arm portionthereof urged into ento readily engage portions of the cases disposedfurthest from .the stabilizer, as illustrated on FIG. 2, as the latter:

arms assume the downwardly disposed position illustrated. Obviously asthe axle 22 proceeds upwardly within the slots 24 of .the plates 20,coil springs 68 are extended creating a .tension tending Ito return theaxle to the lowermost position with the bearing slots 24. Such tensionis greater than that normally exerted on the axle in the position ofstabilizer rest illustrated in FIG. 3.

With the stacked cases in the stabilizer-engaged position of FIG. 2, theengaged pallet and cases thereon may be tilted and the lifting frame 14of the lift Atruck may be raised. The pallet and stacked cases may thenbe rapidly transported in safety to a desired destination. Because ofthe compression forces exerted between the stacked cases by virtue ofthe stabilizer arms 42, there will be no danger of the cases fallingfrom the pallet, as the pallet and cases turn corners on the supportingtruck fork 72. The stabilizer arm disposition between projecting bottlesor cartons in which the bottles are disposed assists the compressionforces exerted by spring 68 in retaining the cases to the pallet 70.

Release of the stabilizer attachment from the stacked casesautomatically [occurs when :the fork of the fork lift truck is withdrawnfrom its engagement with the pallet 70. After the pallet 70 is placedupon the ground or a truck oor or any other supporting surface,` thefork lift truck is backed away from the stacked cases and the weight ofthe cases enables the resiliently engaging stabilizer arms 42 -toslidably disengage from the upper cases 74. Disengagement obviouslybecomes progressively easier upon truck withdrawal since as soon as thefork lift truck backs away from the stacked lifted cases, actuator arms42 no longer engage the cases. The stabilizer arms are thus enabled topivot out of engagement with the cases, which pivotal movement is causedby the coil springs 58.

It should at this time be noted that the downwardly disposed terminalend portions 42a of the stabilizer arms facilitate loading and unloadingof stacked cases within a truck wherein there is very little overheadclearance for insertion and withdrawal of the stabilizer arms.

It is apparent, therefore, from the foregoing that a novel stabilizerassembly of simple design has been presented which may be readilyattached to a fork lift truck construction of substantially anymanufacture. As previously mentioned, the entire stabilizer assembly maybe removed from a lift truck if desired, if the same is secured to suchtruck by means of a nut and bolt assembly.

It is also possible, however, lto weld the channel and bearing plateassembly 25 to a lifting frame strip, such as strip 15 illustrated inFIG. 3. When it is desired to employ the fork lift truck for uses notrequiring a weldedon stabilizer Iassembly, the por-tions of the assembly10, other than the base and bearing plates, may be removed. Removal iseiected by withdrawing screw members 80, more clearly seen in FIG. 5,whereby locking plate 82 and spring anchor 62, may be removed; axle 22may then be readily withdrawn. Springs 68 are detached from theirengagement with vertical members 16 of the lifting frame prior to suchaxle removal.

In view of the above description of the provided stabilizer assembly, itis apparent that many modifications may be made therein and theresulting constructions will still fall within the scope of theinvention disclosed. It is apparent, for instance, that the stabilizer-arms and actuator .arms need not be integrally formed, but each may beseparately attachable to the axle 22; or, the arms may be integrallyformed with the axle. The number of stabilizer `arms or actuator arms isnot critical and only an appropriate number is necessary to serve aspecific purpose. For instance, in the event that stacked goods having aplanar upper surface were to be moved by a lift truck. employing theabove-described stabilizer, a single stabilizer arm in some instanceswould be adequate for retaining all of the stacked goods in properposition.

The above-described stabilizer assembly is obviously simple in design,inasmuch as it is intended that the stabilizer arms, axle and actuatorarms all move as a unit. The minimum number of moving portions greatlyreduces the chances for malfunctioning.

It is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of thepending claims.

We claim:

1. A stabilizer for a load comprising transverse rotatably movable axlemeans, opposed bearing means adapted to supportably engage opposed endportions of said axle means and allow said axle means to upwardly moverelative thereto so as to allow said axle means to automaticallyaccommodate 4itself -to slight differences in the height of lthe load,outwardly extending, upwardly inclined arm means connected to said axlemeans, and actuator means secured to said axle means adapted topivotally move said axle means upon movement of said actuator means soas to urge said upwardly inclined arm means toward a horizontalposition; said axle means, arm Vmeans and actuator means being sointerconnected as to move as an integral unit whereby pivotal movementof said actuator means through an angle pivotally moves said arm meansthrough an equal angle of rotation about said axle means.

2. A stabilizer comprising axle means, at least one stabilizer armextending yfrom said rotatable axle means, actuator means connected tosaid axle means adapted to rotatably move said axle means and stabilizerarm upon movement thereof, bearing means engaging spaced portions ofsaid axle means adapted to suppontably engage said axle mea-ns andenable said axle means to resiliently move in an upwardly directionrelative thereto upon imparti-ng of an upwardly movin-g force to said`axle means,

and means urging said axle means into a predetermined position relativeto said bearing means so as to resiliently oppose any upwardly movingtorce imparted to said axle means.

3. The stabilizer of claim 2 in which said bearing means comprisevertically disposed, slotted plates in which the slots are upwardlyinclinedl in a direction oppositely disposed to the direction ofextension of said stabilizer arm from said -axle means.

4. The stabilizer of claim 2 in combination with means connected to saidstabilizer arm adapted to position said arm in a predetermined positionrelative to the horizontal plane, said positioning means resilientlyopposing ydownward pivotal movement of said stabilizer arm.

5. A stabilizer comprising a transverse support means having spaced,slotted, upwardly extending portions; transverse axle means traversingsaid support means slotted portions and adapted to rotatably moverelative thereto, at least one actuator means connected to and dependingfrom said transverse axle means, upwardly inclined arm means angularlydisposed to said axle means secured to spaced portions of said axlemeans, and means connected to said axle means biasing said axle meansinto the lowermost portions of the slotted portions of said supportmeans, said axle being movable along the length of the slots of saidstabilizer support means in opposition to the lbiasing means; saidupwardly inclined arm means and depen-ding actuator means moving as aunit in the normal course of stabilizer operation.

`6. In a stabilizer construction, spaced arm assemblies, each of saidassemblies comprising elongate stabilizer and actuator armmeans disposedin substantially right angle relationship, a rotatably movable axlemeans adapted to detachably engage each of said spaced arm assemblieswhereby said arm means are radially disposed of said axle means, meansconnected to said arm assemblies for positioning said stabilizer armmeans in a predetermined position, bearing means engaging spacedportions of said axle means enabling said axle means and engaged armassemblies to upwardly move upon the imparting of an upward force tosaid assemblies, and resilient biasing means connected to said axlemeans urging said axle means in a downwardly direction.

7. A stabilizer comprising a transverse rotatably movable axle means,spaced slotted fbearing means engaging spaced portions of said axlemeans, the bearing slots extending in vertical planes `whereby said axlemeans may move upwardly relative to said bearings upon imparting a forcemoving in an upward direction thereto, connector means secured to spacedportions of said axleV means, stabilizer arm means adapted to beinserted in interlitting engagement with said connector means, meansconnected to said stabilizer arm means resiliently urging said latterarm means into intertting engagement with said connector means andpositioning said latter arm means in an upwardly inclined position,actuator arm means connected to said axle means and depending therefrom,and means resiliently urging said axle means downwardly into anos-,r7.2

the lowermost portion of said bearing slots; said stabilizer arm andactuator arm means moving as a unit in the normal course `of stabilizeroperation.

8. A stabilizer comprising a rotatably movable axle means, opposedslotted bearing means adapted to supportably engage opposed end portionsof said axle means and enable said axle means to upwardly :move relativethereto upon the imparting of forces having an upward direction to saidaxle means, outwardly extending arm means radiating from said axle meansmovable in substantially the Vertical plane, iirst resilient meansconnected to said outwardly extending arm means adapted to locate saidarm means in a plane inclined to the horizontal and oppose downwardpivotal movement of said outwardly extending arm means in a downwarddirection, depending actuator means radiating from said axle meansadapted to rotatably move said axle means to which connected upon theimparting theretoy of a force moving .e substantially in the horizontalplane, and second resilient meansV connected to said axle means biasingsaid axle means into the lowermost position within said slotted bear-`ing means.

9. The stabilizer of claim 8 in which the distal terminal end portionsof the stabilizer arm means are downwardly inclined relative to theproximal portion thereof andsad actuator means comprises at least vonearm `dependingrfrom Asaid axle means having a distal terminal portionoffset in the direction of the terminal end portions of said stabilizerarm In@ EHS.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A STABILIZER FOR A LOAD COMPRISING TRANSVERSE ROTATABLY MOVABLE AXLEMEANS, OPPOSED BEARING MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPORTABLY ENGAGE OPPOSED ENDPORTIONS OF SAID AXLE MEANS AND ALLOW SAID AXLE MEANS TO UPWARDLY MOVERELATIVE THERETO SO AS TO ALLOW SAID AXLE MEANS TO AUTOMATICALLYACCOMMODATE ITSELF TO SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN THE HEIGHT OF THE LOAD,OUTWARDLY EXTENDING, UPWARDLY INCLINED ARM MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID AXLEMEANS, AND ACTUATOR MEANS SECURED TO SAID AXLE MEANS ADAPTED TOPIVOTALLY MOVE SAID AXLE MEANS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS SOAS TO URGE SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED ARM MEANS TOWARD A HORIZONTALPOSITION; SAID AXLE MEANS, ARM MEANS AND ACTUATOR MEANS BEING SOINTERCONNECTED AS TO MOVE AS AN INTEGRAL UNIT WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENTOF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS THROUGH AN ANGLE PIVOTALLY MOVES SAID ARM MEANSTHROUGH AN EQUAL ANGLE OF ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXLE MEANS.